Golfers, don’t forget your wrists! By Dr. Stephanie Harris

Wrists are an often overlooked body part when it comes to golf. People who do stretch before golf will spend time stretching the bigger muscles of their bodies like their back, legs and shoulders, and often don’t even think about their wrists. Your wrists play an important role during your golf swing and neglecting them (not stretching or strengthening) can lead to poor performance and injury, which can keep you off the course and on your couch!

Here are a few stretches and strengthening exercises to help keep your wrists strong and to avoid those dreaded wrist injuries!

Wrist Deviation Exercises

Stand with arms at your side and your elbow bent to 90 degrees.

Hold your hand out like you are about to shake hands with someone with your thumb up (this is neutral position).

From this position, move your hand up toward the ceiling and then all the way down to the floor, keeping your forearm locked and only moving from the wrist. Repeat 10 times.

Next, place a light weight or a water bottle in your hand to provide some resistance.

Ball Squeezes

Hold a stress ball or a golf ball in your hand.

Keep your wrist in a neutral position and make a fist around the ball and squeeze.

Hold for 2 – 3 seconds, and then relax.

Perform 2 sets of 10 repetitions. Repeat on the other hand.

Wrist Flexor Stretch

Hold your arm straight out in front of you, keeping the elbow straight and the palm facing up.

Grasp the involved hand at the knuckles and gently stretch the wrist until a stretch is felt on the inside of the forearm.